The 3.5L V6 under the hood of the 350Z was durable, fun, and had an instantly recognizable exhaust note. Here’s why it was legendary.
The Nissan 350Z was immediately a cult classic the second it was available for sale. What’s not to love? Like its predecessors, the 350Z is a fun and reliable sports car at a price point that was close to what the average Joe can afford.
Everyone deserves the opportunity to drive an exciting sports car if they so desire; it shouldn’t just be reserved for the elite. Nissan has long been a proponent of this concept and still is to this day.
While the 350Z wasn’t the most affordable car of its time, when compared to pricey European sports cars like offerings from Audi, BMW, and Mercedes, the 350Z stands out. But what makes the 350Z such a good car to drive?
Obviously, its small size and sport suspension play major roles in making the 350Z the spirited car that it is. However, the most important element lies under the hood.
The high and fast-revving 3.5-liter V6 under the hood, known formally as the VQ35, makes the 350Z is certified fun-mobile on the straights and coming out of the corners.
Furthermore, in normal driving conditions, the VQ35 is tame enough that cruising around town is a pleasant and relatively quiet experience. The engine is so good; in fact, it was on Ward’s 10 Best Engines list every year from 2002 to 2007.
Over the years, the 350Z’s VQ35 has had a few different variants available. Here, we’ll take a quick look at the history of the 350Z and give you the rundown on the legendary VQ35 engine and its changes over the years.
What Years Did Nissan Make the 350Z?
The 2003 Nissan 350Z was the first model year offering to hit North American soil. This was the first time a Nissan Z car became available in the U.S. since the 1996 Nissan 300ZX. However, the roots of the 350Z go much further back.
The first car in the Nissan Z lineage in the U.S. became available for sale in 1970 in the form of the Datsun 240Z. The Z cars continued with the 260Z, 280Z, 280ZX, and two generations of the 300ZX before the release of the 350Z. As is evident, there are years of engineering, development, and big shoes to fill that led to the 350Z.
The 350Z was available for sale from 2003 until it was discontinued in 2009. It was replaced by the Nissan 370Z, which has since also been discontinued. The 2022 Nissan 400Z is set to take the torch and continue the iconic Z car heritage.
Though the 350Z’s six-year production run may seem short compared to many vehicles, they are still plentiful on the used market. So, if you’re in the market for one, we’ll give you the details on what engine comes in what model years, and which one is the best to buy.
Nissan VQ35DE Engine
The earliest models of the 350Z come with the standard Nissan VQ35DE engine under the hood. In addition, they are available with either a six-speed manual transmission or a five-speed automatic.
Just like all Nissan engines, the given name represents the specs of the engine. The VQ tells us that it is in the VQ family of engines, which are all V6s. The 35 dictates that it has 3.5-liters of displacement. The D tells us that it uses dual-overhead-camshaft construction, meaning that each cylinder head has two camshafts.
Finally, the E dictates that it uses electronic fuel injection. It has a compression ratio of 10.3 to 1.
Power output depends on the model year. For example, the 2003 and 2004 Nissan 350Z came only with the standard VQ35DE and had 287 horsepower with 274 lb.-ft. of torque to complement it.
Fuel economy is respectable, too, with EPA ratings up to 17 mpg city and 23 mpg highway.
The 2005 Nissan 350Z tells a bit of a different story, however. Standard models came with the same 287 horsepower and 274 lb.-ft. of torque that the 2003 and 2004 model years came with.
However, in 2005, Nissan made a special 35th-anniversary edition available that came with a more potent version of the standard V6 engine known as the VQ35DE-R or VQ35DE RevUp.
VQ35DE RevUp Engine
The VQ35DE RevUp engine gets its name because of its higher rev range compared to the standard DE engine. The standard VQ35DE has a rev limit of 6,500 rpm, while the RevUp version has a limiter of 7,500 rpm.
Additionally, the RevUp engine got variable valve timing on both the intake and exhaust camshafts, whereas the DE engine only has variable valve timing on the intake camshafts. Check out the Donut Media video below to see and hear the VQ in action and see how it compares to other engines in its class.
The RevUp engine boosts power up a bit, too. It comes with 300 horsepower. However, the higher-revving aspect sacrifices a bit of torque and drops the number to 260 lb.-ft.
The VQ35DE RevUp engine only came in the 35th-anniversary coupe for the 2005 model year. However, the 2006 Nissan 350Z came with one standard so long as it was a manual. Automatic 2006 350Zs retained the original 287 horsepower VQ35DE.
Though the RevUp engine saw mild improvements to the VQ35, the best variant didn’t come out until the 2007 model year.
VQ35HR Engine
The 2007 Nissan 350Z was the first model year with the VQ35HR. The HR engine continued with the 350Z until its discontinuation after the 2009 model year.
The VQ35HR is the most powerful variant of the VQ engine, thanks to its impressive engine specs and improvements over the DE and DE RevUp engines.
The name HR comes from the term “high response.” Like the RevUp, the HR has variable valve timing on all four camshafts.
However, further improvements include using twin throttle bodies and a different intake manifold to illicit the desired faster throttle response and a compression ratio bump to 10.6 to 1.
Power also sees an increase to 306 horsepower and 268 lb.-ft. of torque. The VQ35HR has a redline of 7,600 rpm.
Additionally, the HR does a bit better on fuel, too. It has EPA ratings of up to 18 mpg city and 25 mpg highway.
Nissan 350Z Engine Issues: Is the VQ35 Reliable?
The most prominent issue you will see with the Nissan 350Z VQ35 engine is undoubtedly oil consumption. It is most prominently an issue on the VQ35DE and especially RevUp engines.
However, according to Tuning Pro, the consumption of oil does not necessarily equate to reliability issues.
If you do own a VQ35DE or RevUp engine, however, it is important to periodically check the oil level between oil changes as you may need to add a bit of oil from time to time.
Additionally, shortening oil change intervals and using heavier oil can help combat this issue. Higher mileage engines tend to burn more oil and may output a bit of oil smoke from the tailpipe.
Another issue pertinent to the VQ35DE and RevUp engines is the occasional failure of timing chain tensioners. While it is not explicitly common, it is important to watch out for it when shopping for a used 350Z.
Hearing unusual tapping or clanking noises when the vehicle is running can be a symptom of a failing timing chain tensioner and can result in complete destruction of the engine if not taken care of. Loss of engine timing is never a good thing.
VQ35DEs also tend to run into valve cover oil leaks which can run down onto the exhaust manifold and burn.
All variants of the VQ35, including the HR, are prone to failure of oil gallery gaskets between the cylinder heads and beneath the intake manifold. This is typical with age and can be done by most DIY mechanics with a little patience.
What 350Z Engine Should You Buy?
In terms of being the most affordable, 350Zs equipped with the VQ35DE are the cheapest. They are routinely seen with north of 200,000 miles on them and continue to run fine. Good condition DE models can be found regularly for under $10,000 and are plenty of fun to drive.
However, if you have the extra capital and can afford to get a 2007 through 2009 model year, the HR engine’s extra power and rapid throttle response is definitely worth the investment. A budget of $15,000 can solidly land you in a well-maintained HR-equipped car.
As per usual, be sure to use our free VIN research tool to properly inspect the history of a vehicle in case the seller is not revealing something from its past. Furthermore, if a seller has maintenance and repair history to go with the vehicle, it’s always a tell-tale sign of a beloved car. Whether you get a DE, RevUp, or HR-equipped 350Z, you are sure to have a great time behind the wheel.
Photos: Nissan
